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Twin sisters living with heart failure are campaigning for an end to inequality in services required to manage their condition caused by differing health care trusts. Although Nicole and Farrah live only 32 miles from each other, because they are seen as living in different trusts they have access to differing criteria for specialist treatments. Nicole lives in a Southern Trust area and had access to “life-changing” cardiac rehabilitation sessions in 2022 for acute heart failure. On the other hand, Farrah was diagnosed with her health condition in March 2023 and was discharged eight months later without any rehab treatment offered as she lives in a Northern Trust area.
The two sisters have been actively involved in advocating better awareness for heart failure symptoms and more investment for people affected. Although they both live with the same acute heart failure, the differing access to health care means that they are getting different treatments to maintain their condition. Nicole says cardiac rehab has given her life back and increased her confidence, whereas Farrah has felt angry, scared, and upset by the inconsistency in services provided.
The varying approaches to cardiac rehabilitation have a significant impact on heart failure patients. The South Eastern and Southern Trusts allow all heart failure patients to access cardiac rehab, while the Belfast Trust offers it only if heart failure is a direct result of a heart attack. Meanwhile, the Western Trust is only offered on a case-by-case while the Northern Trust offers it only to heart failure patients who have had an ischaemic event. The Department of Health has admitted the importance of equitable and timely access to cardiac rehab as robust and sustainable long term solutions are consulted upon.
Dr Patricia Campbell, a consultant cardiologist working in the Southern Trust and the Northern Ireland lead for heart failure, insists that cardiac rehab is “as effective as any medicines” when educating patients living with the condition. Acknowledging the different approaches in each trust, she concludes that the heart failure nurses offer amazing services recognised internationally and insists that a regional approach is implemented to maximize best practice
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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